The date palm (Phoenix dactylife),has accompanied the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. The first seeds found on Delma Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi date back to 5110 BC. Since then, the tree has become not only a source of food, but also a symbol of sustainability, prosperity and the cultural code of the region. Dates are found everywhere in Dubai, from the morning cup of Qahwa to the festive table during Ramadan.Female trees yield crops, and one male tree is capable of pollinating dozens of female trees, which makes it possible to maintain plantations with hundreds of varieties, more than two hundred in the Emirates alone.
Date syrup, called dibs, has a special place in the local cuisine. Its thick dark texture is created when the fruit is boiled over low heat. This product is not just sweet it contains potassium, magnesium, iron, B vitamins, including B6. Unlike cane sugar, the syrup has a low glycemic index and does not cause sudden spikes in glucose levels. He gives energy gradually, helping to maintain strength in the hot climate of Dubai. For the Bedouins of the past centuries, dates were a real life-saving food: they were combined with milk or fish, and this was enough to survive in the desert.
Health Benefits And Natural Sweetness
Date sugar is produced differently. First, the fruits are dried, then ground into powder. Fiber, polyphenols, and antioxidants remain in it. It does not completely dissolve in drinks. It is this structure that is appreciated in candy bars, pastries, and desserts. In coffee and tea, sugar gives a mild taste with hints of caramel and honey. This combination distinguishes it from agave, coconut or turbinado sugar.
History shows how important dates were to the region. During the Second World War, when the usual supplies of rice and flour from India stopped, it was dates and fish that saved the Emiratis from starvation. Since then, the fruit has taken pride of place in the diet. In the twentieth century, technology made it possible to produce up to ten new trees from a single palm tree, which increased production and exports. Today, the Emirates even send dates to Iraq, although they themselves once imported them from there.
Modern Uses In Dubai Cuisine
Comparison with other sugars highlights the benefits of date products. Cane sugar remains the main industrial source of sweetness, but it lacks useful properties. Turbinado is appreciated for its caramel flavor, but its composition is close to white sugar. Agave syrup has a low glycemic index, but it contains too much fructose. Coconut and palm sugars contain vitamins and minerals, but they are too low. Against this background, date syrup looks like a healthier and more balanced source of sweetness.
Syrup and sugar are widely used in Dubai cooking. They are used to dress salads, cover meat with a shiny glaze, and add to marinades and drinks. Traditional sweets such as Luqaimat or Khabees are inconceivable without date syrup. In laban, Jellab or qamar al-din drinks, it plays the role of a binding taste. And date syrup is also appreciated as a substitute for honey. For those who enjoy pairing such delicacies with warm beverages, it is now easier than ever to buy coffee online and recreate authentic flavors at home.
Modernity has brought dates a new name: superfood. In Western countries, they are valued for their fiber, antioxidants, and ability to replenish energy quickly. Vegans and supporters of natural nutrition choose date sugar as an alternative to refined foods. Sports nutrition, energy bars, smoothies and fruits are everywhere, which until recently were an attribute of the Bedouin camp.
But fashion has not changed the main thing.For the people of Dubai, dates remain a part of cultural heritage, not just a product. The five-dirham banknote depicts a date palm, a symbol of resilience and abundance. Syrup and sugar from dates have become a bridge between the ancient desert and modern gastronomy.
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